Match-machine.



No. 643,554. Patented Feb. I3, |900.

C. W. STEELE.

MATCH MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 27, 1898. Renewed Oct. 19, 1899.)

(un model.) 3 sheets-snm s.

No. 643,554; Patented Feb. la, |900. c. w. sTEELE. MATcH MACHINE.

(Application med Sept. 27, 1898. Renewed Oct. 19, 1899.) Y (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. ls, |900.

C. W. STEELE.

MATCH MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 27, 1898, Renewed Oct. 19, 1899.)

.3 Sheetsv-Sheet 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

CHARLES vW. STEELE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MATCH-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,554, dated February 13, 1900. Application led September 27,1898. Renewed 0ctobe119, 1899. Serial No. 734,134. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom z5 may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES IV. STEELE, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne, and in the State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Match-Machin es; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, ref-l erence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of a match-machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 4isadetail view in h'orizontal section on line of Fig. 2.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

My invention relates to match-machines of the class in which splints are cut from blocks of wood and inserted in perforated dipping plates or racks; and it has for its object to improve the block-feeding mechanism and the splint-setting mechanism 5 and to these ends said invention consists in the match-machine having ther features of construction substantially as hereinafter specified.

The particular type of match-machine which I have selected for improvement is that shown in Patent No. 416,888, dated December l0, 1889, in which the splints after being cut are inserted in holes in separate dippingplates that after being supplied with splints are removed for dipping the latter; but I desire it understood that those features of my invention which are capable of use with machines of other types are not by such selection restricted to the particular type of machine referred to. In the machine shown there is a suitable frame A, near the base of which is provided bearings for the drivingshaft B, which has a crank C, that is connected by a pitman D with a vertically-reciprocating slide E, that is mounted in suitable g'uides in the frame A. Secured to the upper part of the slide is a head F, to which is fastened in a well-known waygthe series of cutters G and G, formed of bars with circular knives at their ends adapted on the descent of the head t-o out 4splints from the blocks of wood and upon its ascent to carry them to the dipping-plates to insert them into the latter. Beneath the cutters is a plate H, that is movable horizontally into and out of position beneath the circular knives to serve in the former case as a support forthe splints when they are to be thrust into the holes in the dipping-plates. Said plate is attached at its ends to two reciprocating bars I and I, that are mounted slidingly in guides formed in the head F, on the rear end of each of which is an outward projection or lug, preferably in the form of a roller K. Mounted in guides L and L, secured to the inner side of each of the pair of horizontal rails or bars M and M, which support and guide the dipping-plates N and N, is a horizontal sliding bar O, having one end over a roller K and provided with a vertical fork P, whose open end is downward, so that on the ascent of the head E the roller K will enter the fork and be straddled thereby. IVhen rollers and forks are engaged, the movement of the bars O and O will be transmitted to the splint support or plate H. For reciprocating each bar O there is pivoted to the side of the adjacent rail M a lever Q, that is connected by a link R with the bar and by a connecting rod or pitman S with an eccentric T, mounted on the driving-shaft B. The levers Q and Q, are also utilized to cause the step-by-step feed of the dipping-plates Nand N, each lever being connected by a link U with a slide-bar V, mounted in guides W and W on the adjacent rail M, said slide-bar beingprovided with a number of pawls X and X, that are arranged to enter the splint-receiving holes or perforations in the plates and push the latter when -the bars are moved in one direction and to slide over said plates when the bars are moved in the opposite direction.

As usual, an abutment or support Yis provided for the plates to hold them against the v same as that shown in the patent hereinbefore referred to and comprises a feed-bar Z,

that has block-engaging teeth at one end and is pivoted at the other end to a lever A', by means of which it is reeiprocated, and is connected by a link I3 to a lever C, by 'means of which its toothed portion is caused to engage with and be disengaged from the bloc-ks. The means employed by me to operate the levers A and C differ from what is shown in said patent in this, that in the latter cams are provided to directly act on the levers, while in the present case each lever is connected at its lower end to a horiZontally-reciprocating bar D, mounted in suitable guides on the frame A, that has an end engaging a cam E', mounted on the driving-shaft B. The reason for this difference is due to the fact that the driving-shaft of the present machine is located differently from that of the machine of the patent and stands at an angle that precludes the direct engagement of the cams with the levers.

The operation of the machine described as embodying my improvements is as follows: Power being applied to the shaft B and blocks of wood supplied to the troughs or guideways, the cams E' and E' will actuate the feed devices and the crank C will reciprocate the head F, carrying the cutters. On the descent of the head F thc cutters will cut splints from the edges of the forward blocks, and by the ascent of said head the splints will be carried up to have their upper ends thrust in the row of holes in the dipping-plate that is in position for the purpose. By the rising of the head F the rollers K and K will be carried into the forks I and P, and before the head has risen far enough to place the upper ends of the splints in the holes of the dipping-plate the plate H will be moved by the action of the eccentrics T and T to position beneath the cutter-knives, so that the lower ends of the splints will be supported by said plate when the upper ends are pressed into the dipping-plate holes. The retraction of the plate H from beneath the cutter-knives takes place during the descent of the head F, and when the head has descended far enough to free the cutters from the splints just inserted in the dipping-plate the pawl-carrying bars V and V are moved to cause the pawls to en gage the dipping-plate and move it to place another row of holes in position to receive the next lot of splints cut.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In a match-machine, the combination of splint-cutters, a plate movable to and from position to support splints held by the cutters, and means for moving said plate into and out of splint-supporting position comprising a part having a fork and a part to coperate with the fork, one of which is movable relative to the other to cause engagement of the cooperating part with, and disengagement thereof from the fork, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a match-machine, the combination of a reciprocating head carrying splint-cutters, a plate movable to and from position to support splints held by the cutters, and a reciprocating bar for moving said plate having a fork, into and out of engagement with which a part connected with the plate is movable, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a match-machine, the combination of a reciprocating head carrying,splint-cutters, a plate movable to and from position to support splints, bars to which said plate is connected,having projections, reciprocating bars having forks to engage the projections and supports for said reciprocating bars that are fixed relative to the cutter-carrying head, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

4. In a match-machine, the combination of a reciprocating head carrying splint-cutters, a plate movable to and from position to support splints, bars to which said plate is connected, having projections, reciprocating bars having forks to engage the projections, levers to which said bars are' connected, end eccentrics connected to said levers, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

5. In a match-machine, the combination of a head carrying splint-cutters, a plate movable to and from position to support splints held by the cutters, means for moving said plate, a dipping-plate, means for moving the same step by step, a lever, and connections between the same, and the means for moving each of said plates, substantially as and for the purpose described.

G. In a match-machine, the combination of a reciprocating head carrying splint-cutters, a plate movable to and from position to support splints held by the cutters, means for moving said plate, comprising a part attached to the plate, and a reciprocating bar adapted for engagement with and disengagement from said part, a dipping-plate, means for moving the same step by step, a lever, and connections between the lever and the reciprocating bar and between the lever and the dippingplate-moving means, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a match-machine, the combination of a splint-cutting mechanism, a driving-shaft for operating the same, and block-feeding mechanism comprising a block-engaging bar,-

IOO

a lever connected with said bar moving in a l direction that is oblique to the direction in which the axis of the driving-shaft extends,- a cam on the driving-shaft, and a reciprocat ing bar, engaging the cam, and connected with the lever, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

8. In a match-machine, the combination of splint-cutting mechanism, a driving-shaft,` for operating the same, and block-feeding mechanism comprising a block-engaging bar, two levers connected with said bar moving in a direction that is oblique to the direction have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of in which the axis of the driving-shaft extends, September, 1898. two cams on the driving-shaft and reciprocating bars engaging the cams and connected CHARLES W STEELE" 5 with the levers, substantially as and for the Witnesses:

purpose specified. Y J IM KELLY,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I J. MOONEY. 

